Means for treating sheet material with heat



A ril 3,1928. I

L. w, BRUNELL MEANS FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL WITH HEAT Filed March 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l ln remiov: I Leo Wfivunell, M75 3 .s.

April 3, 1928. 1,665,185

- L. w. BRQNELL MEANS FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL WITH HEAT Filed March 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2,

lichen/60?: Leo WBruw/ea,

April 3, 1928.

L. W. BRUNELL MEANS FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL WITH HEAT Filed March 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3,

imwemiwa": L@@ h 5 y flmf April 3, 1928. 1,665,185

L.. w. BRUNELL MEANS FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL WITH HEAT I Filed March 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Lew WB?QZWEZ, aw y; /W 3% i 45 the invention may cludesthe mainframe 11, a feed table 12,.

Patented Apr. 3,1928.

UNITED-STATES 1,665,185 PATENT OFFICE.

LEO W. BB-UNELL, OF FOXB OBO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-TH IBD TO BURT I 1'. arm cnusn'r'rs.

AND ONE IHIRD T EDWARD W; CALHNS, BOTH OF BOSTON, MASSA- means non TREATING snnnr'm'mmar. wnn' HEAT.-

Application filed March 19, 1927. Serial No. 116,033.

This invention relates to novel means fortreating sheet material, such as paper, with heat furnished by a gas burner, between which and the paper there'is a relative movement. The'inven'tion' is particularly useful in connection with the drying of ink and the neutralizing of static charges on paper passing' through or from a printing press. v The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description,

when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more -particularly pointed out in the appended '15 claims. Y

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a printing press equipped with heat treatingmeans exemplifying the invention; F Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on .line 22 of 1a Fig. 3 is a horizontal, sectional view, on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat conventional illustration of the entire press in side elevation,

simply to show the general arrangement 0 the press, but omitting the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 5 isa vertical, sectional view of the valve, which, in conjunction'with a pump, controls the flow of gas to the burner;

Fig. 6 is a vertical, sectional ,view of the Pump; i

Fig. 7 s a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on line 7-7 of Fig.1, illustrating the means for mixing gas and air to be supplied to the burner; and

' Figs. 8, 9- and' 10, are v illustrating the operation of'the sheet-feeding means, in connection with the burner.

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of the invention which is selected for exemplification, there is shown in Fig. 4 one type of press, in connection with which be used. The press ina cylinder 13, a set of feed tapes 14, which receive the sheets one by one from the cylinf der,'and a reciprocating carriage 15, which travels on rails 16 and causes the tapes to deposit the sheets one byv one on a jogger 17.

The mechanism for controlling the operation -of the tapes will now be described,

reference being had'at first to Fig. 8. Each f 8, 9 and 10)'-moves forward with the carthe tapes remain diagrammatic views permits the ratchet 29 tape is an endless band, which-extends part- I way around each of a set of rollers 18, 19, 20 and 21. The rollers 18 and 19 are mounted on the press frame (see Fig. 3), while the rollers 20 and 21 are mounted on the carriage. There are individual rollers 21, one for each tape, and each of these rollers is carried by a bracket 22 secured to a transverse tie- 7 piece 23, which is a part of the carriage 15.

At the other end of the carriage, there is I another tie-rod 24 (see Fig. 1) connecting the two sides of the carriage. The carriage is equipped with rollers 25 (see Fig. '2), WhlCh run on the rails 16, respectively. Brackets 26, securedto the rails, and overlying the sides of the carriage (see Fig. 2), prevent the carriage from beinglifted. The

ca'rriage is reciprocated by mechanism ineluding racks 271 on the under side of the carriage, and meshing with gears 28.

As herein shown, the reciprocating movement of the carriage is utilized to impart an intermittent movement to the tapes, the arrangement being such that that portion. of the tapes-on which the sheet rests (see Figs.

riage, and at the same speed, whereas during the backward movement of the carriage,

stationary. This is conveniently accomplished by providing two ratchets 29 and 30 (see Fig.- 8), one secured to the roller 18 and the other to the roller 20, and cooperating'with these ratchets are 'pawls 31 and 32, respectively. As clearly Fig. 8, one ratchet and its associshown 1n ated pawl is so arranged that it is active, while the other is inactive. Furthermore, the pawls-and ratchets are so arranged that, during the forward movement of the carriage from the position shown in Fig. 8, to and beyond the position shown in Fig.9, the pawl 31 does not permit the ratchet 30 and roller 20 to rotate, whereas the pawl 32 and roller 18 to r0'- as shown'in Fig. 9.

tate contra-clockwise, Accordingly, during the forward movement of the carriage, the upper part of the tape which sustains the sheet travels forward with the carriage, and atthesame speed. On the other hand, during the backward travel of the carriage, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the pawl 32 now-holds the ratchet 29 and roller-18 against rotation, and the pawl 31 permits rotation of the ratchet 30 and rollers clockwise. Accordingly, that portion of the tapes which sustains the sheet remains stationary. All of this, of course, is well known, and requires no further description.

During the forward motion of the carriage, the front edge of the sheet is against one or more stops 33 mounted on the carriage, but when the sheet is brought to a position above the jogger-board or table 17 the stops 33 are lifted (see Fig. 10), and

another stop 34, also mounted on the frame of the machine, swings from the horizontal position represented in Figs. 8 and 9 to the vertical position represented in Fig. 10, and thus prevents backward movement of the sheet, while the carriage is travelling backward, or atleast during the early part of the backward travel. The operation of these stops, likewise, is all old and wellknown.

I will now describe the attachment with which my invention is concerned, reference being had at first to Fig. 3. A gas bar comprising a pipe '35, extending transversely of and beneath the path of the sheet, and provided with perforations 36 and thereby constituting a burner, is appropriately mounted on the carriage, as by clamps 37, about the gas bar, these clamps being provided with rearwardly eiitending shanks or rods 38 suitably secured to thetie-piece 23, as by blocks 39, into which the rods extend and to which the rods are secured as by setscrews 40. This provides an adjustable mounting for the gas bar, permitting the same to be placed in the most advantageous position with" relation to 'the path of the paper. Inasmuch as the paper, in passing over the gas bar contacts therewith (see Fig. 10), the perforations 36 are located at the forward side of the gas bar, so that there is no danger of the paper being scorched.

The gas bar receivesits supply through a pipe 41 from a mixing chamber 42 (best shown in Fig. 7), with which there is associated a gas nozzle 43 and an adjustable valve 44 of known construction. The nozzle 43 herein is screwed into a nipp1e'45, the arrangement being such that a nozzle whose orifice is of'the correct cross-sectional area may be selected by trial.

Inasmuch as the burner is to be extinguished and relighted automatically, as will hereinafter appear, there is associated with the gas bar a pilot burner 46 (see Fig. 3), appropriately supported .on the pipe 41, as

#by clamps 47 and 48 (see Fig. 1), the outlet to the latter, as by screws 50,

orifice of the pilot being adjacent one end of the row of perforations 36, so as to light and relight the main burner. A shield 19 (see Fig. 3), about the end of the pilot and about a portion of the gas bar, and secured prevents the pilot light from being extinguished accidentally. The tube which constitutes the pilot is appropriately connected, as byv a flexible conduit such as a rubber hose 51 (see Fig. 1) to a source of supply of gas (not shown).

Efficient and economical operation of thegas bar is assured by novel means now to be described, reference being had at first to Fig. 1. An appropriate pump 52, which serves to b00st the pressure of the gas on its way to the burner, is suitably mounted on' a reciprocating carriage, as by means of a clamp 53, which clamps the pump on the transverse tie-rod 24. In the present ex ample, this pump is a common form of rotary pump (best shown in Fig. 6), and comprises a casing or stator 54, havin an inlet 55 and an outlet 56 between whic 2 there is .a rotor 57 having blades 58. This pump is driven by appropriate mechanism, which causes it to operate during the backward travel of the carriage, but to remain inactive during the forward travel. Herein, this is conveniently accomplished by driving the pump from the tape roller 20 (see Fig. 1) by sprocket wheels 59 and 60 and a chain 61 connecting them.

roller 20 is intermittent, and it .is rotated only during the backward travel of the car riage, as will be evident from an examination of Fig. 10.

The pump inlet is connected as bya shutofl' cock 62 and a flexible conduit, such as a rubber hose 63, with the gas supply, while the pump outlet is connected by a similar rubber hose 64 with the nipple45, which,

In this connection, it will 6 be remembered that the rotation of the tape might be connected to the inlet side of the pump, in which case it would be opened by the suction of the pump.-

The valve employed in the present example comprises a valve body or casing 66 (see Fig. 5), having an inlet 67, an outlet 68 and a valve seat 69 therebetween. A valve 70, cooperating with the seat 69, is carried by a swinging arm 71 mountedon a pivot 72, and One end of this spring is seated against a nut 74, which is screwed onto a threaded shank 75, by means of which the valve is secured to the arm 71. the degree of resistance; presented by the normally closed by a spring 73 Adjustment. of

spring to the opening of the valve under the pressure of the gas is conveniently effected by an adjustably mounted abutnient 76 for the other end of the spring. Herein,

this abutment is mounted toslide in slots 77 presented by a threaded plug 78, which is screwed into the valve casin 66. 'Adjustment of the abutment to vary t e strength of the spring is conveniently accomplished by an adjusting screw 79, threaded into the plug 78 and having its inner end engaging the abutment 76.

It should now be evident that the pump and the valve, by their cooperative action,

5 not only cause gas to be supplied to the burner only during the backward movement of the carriage, but also regulate the pressure of the gas inaccordance with the speed of the press. Therefore, there is a resultant efliciency and economy of operation of the gas bar, and there is no danger of the sheet becomin ignited, no matter if the press should s ow down and stop, even when the sheet is passing over the gas bar. It should 5 also be evident that these advanta es are obtainable by the use of the descri ed.attachment, in connection with presses of other types.

Having thus described one embodiment of the inventifon,'but without limiting myself thereto, what I claim and desire by Patent to secure is: r 1. In a printing press, the combination of a gas burner, means for causing a. relative Letters movement of the sheet of paper and the gas burner, a pump for pumplng gas to said burner, and means to cause said pump to pump gas to said burner only when the press is operating. a I

2. In a printing press, the combination of a gas burner, means for causing a relativemovement of theshe'et of paper and the gas burner, a pump for pumping gas to said burner, and means to drive said pump at a .45 ,speed proportioned to the speed of the press.

3. In a printing press, the combination of a gas burner, means for causing a relative movement of the sheet of paper and the gas burner, a pump for pumping gas to said '50 burner, and means tp'drive said pump at a speed proportioned to the speed of thepress and to'cause said pump to stop when the press stops.

4. In a printing press, the combinationof a gas burner, means for causing a relative movement of the sheet of paper and the .gas

' 7 burner, a pump for pumping gas toisaid' burner, and means to cause said pump to supply gas to said. burner during said move-- 5 vm'ent and to stop said pump during another part of the cycle of the press. 5.. In a printing a gas burner, reciprocating means for causing a, relative movement of the sheet ofpap'er and the gas burner'during one stroke of said press,'the combination of means, a pump for pumping gas to said burner, and means to cause said pump to supply gas to said burner during said stroke and to cause said pump-to stop duringthe I other stroke of said reciprocating means.

6. In a printing press, the combination of means including a reciprocating carriage and-an endless sheet-supporting band to cause a feeding movement ofsaid band and'the sheet carried thereby during the forward stroke of said carriage, and to cause the sheet-supporting portion of said band to remain fixed during the backward stroke of said carriage, a gas burner carried by said carriage and moved thereby backward beneath said sheetduring the backward stroke of said carriage, a pump-for pumping gas to said burner, and means to cause said pump to pump gas to said burner only during said backward stroke.

7. In a printing press, the combination of vmerit of the sheet and said burner, a pump .lfor pumping gas to said burner, and a .driving connection between said pump and said intermittently moving part.

9. In a machine for heat-treating sheets, the combinationof a gas burner, means for causing a relative traversing movement of said burner and the sheet, a gas pump having a gas inlet and a gas outlet to saidburner, a. valve associated with said pump and responding to variations of gas pressure produced by said pump and in turn controlling the flow of gas to said burner, and means connected with the first-mentioned means for causing said pump to be driven intermittently in timed relationship with rsaid,traversing movement. s

10. In a machine the combination-of a gas burner, means for causing a relative traversing movement of,

said burner and-the sheet, a gas pump for for heat-treating sheets,

pumping gas to said burner, a self-closing valve associated with said pump and moving in response to pressure fluctuations roduced by said pump and in turn contro ling-the flow of gas to said burner, and means for driving said pump at speeds varying with the speed of said movement and forstopping saidpump'when the machin stops.

11. In a machine for handlmgsheet material, the combination of a gas burner, feeding means for feeding the material past said burner, pressure-responsive means for controlling the flow of gas to said burner, and means for varying the pressure applied .to said pressure-responsive means in accordance with the feeding rate of said feeding means.

12. In a machine for handling sheet material, the combinatiomof a gas burner, feeding means for feeding the material past said burner, pressure-responsive means for controlling the flow of gas to said burner, and means for applying pressure to said pressureresponsive means when said feeding means is operating and for relieving the pressure on said pressure-responsive means when said feeding means is not operating.

13. In a machine for handling sheet material, the combination of a gas burner, means for causing a relative movement of the sheet and said gas burner, pressure responsive means for controlling the flow of gas to said burner, and means for varying the pressure applied to said pressure responsive means in accordance with changes in the relative positions of the sheet and said gas burner.

14. In a machine for handling sheet material, the combination of a gas burner, means forcausing a relative movement of the sheet and said gas burner, a pressure responsive valve for controlling the flow of gas to said burner, a pump for pumping gas through said valve to said burner, and means for modifying the operation of said pump in accordance with changes in the relative positions of the sheet and said gas burner.

15. In a machine for handling sheet material, the combination of a gas burner, means for causing a relative movement of the sheet and said gas burner, a pump for pumping gas to said burner, and means for modifying the operation of said pump in accordance with changes in the relative positions of said' sheet and said gas burner.

In testimony. whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

LEoW. BRUNELL. 

